Wastewater and risk to Private Wells Margaret Keegan Hydrogeologist Water Catchment Team Office of Environmental Enforcement, EPA, Dublin Irish On-Site Wastewater Association Workshop Killenard, Co Laois 19 th October 2016
Outline of Presentation Update on Implementation of National Inspection Plan Code of Practice Review Private Wells
National Inspection Plan (2015-2017) Engagement strategies - focussing on promoting best practice relating to the operation and maintenance of DWWTs and encourage registration by homeowners Site inspection strategies Risk-Based site inspections focussing primarily on operation and maintenance of DWWTs Inspections: Are non-intrusive Focus on compliance with Act and Regulations Consider if components are in working order Look for unauthorised discharges Look to see if rainwater /clean surface water gets into systems Check for maintenance and operation records Check if de-sludging occurs at regular frequency Determine if they pose a risk to human health or the environment If a system fails then an Advisory Notice is issued by LA and owner may be eligible for a grant, if the system is registered
National Engagement Strategy Evidence is that awareness among the public of wastewater treatment systems is very low and this is something that was identified as needing to change 2015-2017 NIP - National Strategy needed NIECE Engagement Working Group CCMA, HSE, LAs, DHPCLG, LAWCO, NFGWS and EPA Developing a Strategy for roll out by local authorities and other stakeholder groups Objective: To influence system owners to properly operate and manage their wastewater treatment systems through the proper operation and implementation of a program of citizen engagement activities and resources Stakeholder meetings; IPI, IFI, GSI, ABP, EAO, Law Society; Rural Link, IOWA, IWTA(planned) and looking for your assistance and input
New Leaflet - Feedback
Inspection Findings 2015 UNPUBLISHED Report on Implementation of NIP in 2015 to be published shortly The target of 1,000 inspections was exceeded Overall compliance rate 55% Main reasons for failures remain as operational and maintenance as well as lack of de-sludging (1/4 of all inspected) 144 Advisory notices remain open beyond their remedial date More than 1/3 of systems inspected had a private well 42% of systems failed inspection
Information for Homeowners on wastewater treatment systems Dedicated Page on website Animations on how systems work and what to expect from inspection Guidelines for new builds Code of Practice Guidelines for renovation/replacement Frequently Asked Questions Guidance on Operation and Maintenance Grant information Research Findings and reports Want to inform people how best to do it?
Revision to the Code of Practice Steering Committee CCMA, IOWA, IWTA, TCD, DHPCLG, EPA Steering Committee to review outputs prior to publication of consultation document Take account of new Research Findings Clarifications on CoP to date Changes to EN 12566 TGD Revised Part H Public Consultation in early 2017
Research Findings (1) Research Report 161 Existing soakaways Low K soils likely to be causing shallow lateral flow to ditches but attenuation is significant Higher K soils effluent percolates downward may pollute GW but no negative influence in nearby wells Distribution Systems secondary treated effluent Low Pressure Systems T <90 Drip Dispersal Systems T<120 Evapotranspiration Systems Not acting as zero discharge where in-situ low K soil used Good passive system with pollutant attenuation Discharge licence currently required
Research Findings (2) Microbial source tracking successful to determine source of faecal contamination being used in other research projects Discharges to SW to be reconsidered where discharge to ground is not possible this would require a change to existing legislation Cluster decentralised systems may be suitable for existing sites in poor permeability areas needs further investigation Extension of sewer network in certain areas may be a suitable option for certain areas with high density of houses in poor K soils and WWTP with spare capacity Excavation of soils and replacement with higher K soils may be possible in some locations depending on the bedrock permeability Cesspools have high operational costs and are not considered to be a sustainable long term solution may be ok for holiday homes with water saving devices Water Saving Devices reduce the amount of wastewater generation
Private Wells More than 1/3 of all wastewater systems inspected also had a private well on-site. Almost half of these systems failed inspection
Risks to Private Wells Ireland has the highest rate of VTEC (nasty form of E.Coli) in Europe Ref: HSE reports VTEC cases are 4 times more likely where private well water consumed 100% increase in VTEC in 2012 (over 700 cases in 2014) Estimated that up to 30% of private wells contaminated by E. coli Ref: EPA Water Quality Report It appears that historically little consideration has been given by well owners to the proper location or construction of private wells. Many well owners do not seem to be aware of the risks posed to their health from private well water. A study by Hynds (2012) showed that: 24% of 215 respondents were unaware of the potential threat of adjacent septic tank systems; this is worrying as the majority of private well supplies are located in rural areas where the property is also connected to a septic tank. In 40% of respondent cases, the well water was not regularly tested. Most wells do not have any form of treatment; only 32% of private well supplies had some form of treatment.
Public Awareness A common misconception is that if the well owner has had no health problems, the well water is fit for purpose, this may not be the case as the well owner may have built up immunity to the contamination over time. Friends, family and children may become ill as a result of consuming the well water.
Private Wells The Issues Private Wells are exempted supplies Drinking Water Regulations do not apply. 170,000 private wells according to the CSO. Do not know where they are and cannot inspect them Need a change in attitude from pure well water Need to inform the well owners of the risks Want improved source protection, well construction Regular testing of well water Treatment installed, if necessary
Communication Strategy The aim is to improve awareness of the risks to private wells and to reduce the incidence of contaminated water reaching consumers taps Purpose: Target rural communities with private wells Raise awareness and inform them of issues that directly affect them but they may not know about Deliver in partnership with others Communicate with the stakeholders whose members are directly affected private well issues Improve channels with stakeholders to get message out to the public Creating awareness and enabling behaviour change
What Site Assessors/Installers can do.. Raise awareness by providing well owners with information during site assessment/installation. There is a lot of information on the EPA website including a simple animation, which explains the risks. Give them a leaflet and advise them to get their well tested if they haven t done so already discounted rate if they go to a lab on the EPA list on the website. Refer them to the EPA Advice Note 14 or the IGI Guidelines if there is an issue regarding well construction. Advise them to use the Protect your Well assessment app available on the EPA website.
General Advice (1) Secure the wellhead from animal access (e.g. putting a fence around it). Check that the well is adequately protected. Make sure that contamination is not getting into the well by checking If the wellhead is sealed? If the well is lined and grouted? If surface water or runoff can get into the well? Check the EPA Advice Note or the IGI Guidelines for more detailed advice
General Advice (2) Look for any potential sources of contamination such as: Domestic wastewater treatment systems e.g. septic tanks; Landspreading of slurry; Storage of chemicals such as disinfectants, pesticides, paints; Fuel storage tanks for home heating oil; Abandoned boreholes. Use the Protect your Well App to identify whether or not the well is at risk of contamination.
General Advice (3) Well water may be contaminated if it is discoloured, even occasionally, or if there is an odour coming from it. N.B. Even if well water is crystal clear it may still be contaminated as many of the bugs in water are invisible. To ensure that drinking water is safe get it tested. preferably at least once a year for bacterial contamination and once every three years for chemical contamination, especially after heavy rain. A test can only tell you about the quality of the water at the time of the test - the quality may change at different times. If concerned arrange for a retest. The laboratories listed on the EPA website are offering a discount on the cost of analysis see www.epa.ie/water/dw/hhinfo/ for details.
General Advice (4) If you suspect that the water may be contaminated the well owner should be advised to boil the water until the well water is tested. If the results of testing confirm that contamination is present well owners need to take steps to protect their well (e.g. fencing the source or preventing surface water from entering the well). However, if these measures are insufficient to prevent contamination (e.g. in karst areas where groundwater is heavily influenced by surface water) well owners will need to consider treatment based on the raw water quality. Treatment should include disinfection as a minimum but may require additional treatment where, for example, hard water or elevated levels of iron or manganese are present as these can affect the performance of disinfection systems such as UV.
General Advice (5) A Well Grant may be available if the house is more than 7 years old and not connected to either a public or a group scheme, (subject to some conditions). The grant is worth up to 2,031.58 (or 75% of the cost of the work, whichever is the lesser) and must be used to provide a new water supply or to upgrade an existing one If a well owner is concerned about their well water, they should contact their HSE Environmental Health Officer or GP for health advice.
Thank You for Listening